With an average age of 25.548 years (according to http://www.nhlnumbers.com/), the Chicago Blackhawks are the youngest team in the NHL.
Even with the abundance of youth, they are competitive and primed to make a run in the playoffs.
Many followers of hockey and even most casual fans have at least heard the names "Patrick Kane" and "Jonathan Toews." As rookies last year, 19-year-old Kane won the Calder Trophy with Toews (same age) finishing second in the voting. Thus far, Kane leads the team in points with 42. Toews, who was named team captain before the season began, has 36. Together, they provide almost all of the team's offensive output. (Needless to say, an injury to either one at this point could be devastating, as was the case last year when Toews was injured.)
Another youngin' has emerged and his impact has been unexpectedly immediate. In his first NHL season, 22-year-old left-winger Kris Versteeg has tallied 13 goals and 23 assists, totalling 36 points in 44 games. He was recently named to the NHL's Young Stars Game. His name was even being mentioned in the running for the Calder Trophy earlier in the season, but that has somewhat subsided.
22-year-old center Dave Bolland has also contributed highly in the resurgance of the Blackhawks this season. Playing in a new career high 45 games (last year he set a career high, appearing in 39 games for the Blackhawks), he has 25 points with 8 goals and 17 assists. He has also had six multi-point games this season.
With such a young and talented team, it will be interesting to see what, if any, moves are made as the March 4 trade deadline approaches. Hawks GM Dale Tallon recently discussed this issue, saying that he will evalutate how the team plays during the upcoming 8-game road trip and decide wether or not to make a roster move. It sounded as if he was leaning towards keeping the team as is for the playoffs. But that's for another blog entry.
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The Blackhawks youth is incredible in many ways. They are exciting to watch and seem to play with a huge amount of maturity for their age. I wonder how this young team will compete with teams like Detroit down the stretch and into the playoffs. I love the combination of Sharp, Kane and Versteeg in the games because they play with a chip on their shoulder and aren't afraid of any opponents. Making a move for a veteran would be a nice addition, pending the contract agreement and amount of free agent money to spend.
ReplyDeleteI think it's interesting that the NHL is seeing a shift from old veterans to young rookies. Half of the Blackhawks are under the age of 25--that's incredible! I think this shift partially has to do with the new rule changes in the NHL that have really limited the number of fighters on the ice. The new rules have made it possible for younger players, who have talent and can actually skate, to be in the NHL.
ReplyDeleteThe young players in the game have completely revamped it. Take players like Crosby, Ovechkin, Kane, Toews, and Wheeler out of the picture and the NHL goes right back to where it was a few years ago.
ReplyDeletenot to mention the marketing gold mine these guys provide the league with. the more attention the better these days
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